The Twins need to decide how deep to cut.

 I think that the Twins have a bit of a window of grace right now. They finally won a bit in the post season, but are now being confronted by the realities of the shifting landscape of sports media. They have no TV contract, and are the first team to need to try to figure out their value on the open market since Diamond Sports has started it's collapse. People recognize this, and understand the challenges. 

Really, though, what kind of leash do you think that will buy the team? After Sonny Gray signs elsewhere, and the Twins have traded off Jorge Polanco, do you think Twins fans will have all that much patience for whatever cuts the organization deems necessary? I sure don't. 

The team needs eyeballs on the game to sell their product, and with the TV rates likely to be harder to come by, they will need fans in the stands next season. At some point, the Twins will need to wonder where the value of saving a couple of bucks is worth aggravating fans even more. Sure, winning sells tickets, but this market has seen good fortune dry up abruptly in the past, and will be wary of a sell off, even if the team is still well positioned to start the season.

What I am saying, in my own convoluted manner, is if it is worth jettisoning popular utility players at a fairly marginal reduction in payroll, or for a marginal increase in talent? Kyle Farmer is making a pretty good chunk of change next season, but on the other hand, he was the first player to defy the Minnesota Curse (saying the Twins would win in the post season) and be right about it. Do you want to tempt fate like that?

More seriously, Nick Gordon won't be in line to make as much money. He had a rough start in 2023 and saw his season end early due to injury. He offers positional flexibility, and his bat had come around 2022. For a league minimum salary, he seems like a guy worth keeping around, especially if Farmer is relocated. 

Undoubtedly, there are players in St. Paul that are pounding on the door, ready to come to big league squad, like Austin Martin, who would share some of the same tools as Gordon, but there shouldn't be a rush to get Martin to the Majors to start the year, and injuries will definitely arise as the season progresses. There is plenty of time to get Martin to town. 

On the other hand, the veteran depth looks to be limited next season, thanks to that payroll trim. Even as a pre-arbitration player, Gordon adds some of the leadership structure to the organization, even if as a cheerleader. That said, he has been a long time member of the organization, and is only a year younger than Carlos Correa. Calling Gordon a veteran isn't absurd. 

I'm not saying that Gordon should be the starting second baseman or anything wild like that. I'm saying that if the team is trying to cut payroll while remaining competitive, maybe keeping Gordon can satisfy both of those issues, and continue to be a well liked figure in the organization.